In the Night

Though watching Ashlee leave, Eric’s ears still listened to Stacy. “Could’ve fooled me. That was ‘bout as close to a cold shoulder as I could’ve gotten.” It bothered him that Ashlee was being so offish, but he tried to shrug it off. “Maybe she’s just tired.” Was that really it? Or had he unintentionally done something really wrong? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d messed something up. 

He polished off his lasagna and sighed deeply. He was full. He was satisfied. He was exhausted. His eyes found Stacy’s, and he smiled. “Well, if no one will go on a midnight ride with me…maybe I can find somebody to at least go for a walk…”


Rosalyn read Chad’s text message for the third time, the tears still rolling slowly down her cheeks. She lay on her bed, but was still fully dressed, boots still on. She’d left Clint a while earlier and instead of eating supper, she’d gone to be by herself again. Chad’s message had arrived at least an hour before, but she still had yet to answer him. She missed him. But she couldn’t allow her emotions to be public. She had to keep them all inside, locked away tight, for fear of making her life – and anyone else’s here – worse, due to her own father’s temper. 

Her eyes scanned Chad’s words. She hated believing that he was really genuine – that his care for her was true. She hated hoping in something that couldn’t possibly be reality. Yet, if he really weren’t genuine, surely he would have given up by now. She was being beyond difficult – if all Chad wanted was a good time, he had a whole lot of easier opportunities than her. 

Eventually, her fingers found their way to her phone’s keyboard. 

To: Chad
From: Rosalyn

You’re such an eloquent clown, and I miss you so. Surely your travels aren’t as grand as they sound – my 
imagination likes to exaggerate. But I suppose even the greatest dream is worth dreaming, even if when I wake up, I find it gone.

Maybe pretending this was all real really was foolishness, but it did bring a smile to her face. And right now, a smile was what she longed for. Maybe it really was her imagination that there was something real between her and Chad, but at this point, all she had were dreams. 

I’m sorry if it’s seemed I’ve been ignoring you. I’ve just been busy.

There was no point in making Chad worry or feel bad about her current situation.

I’d dearly love to someday join you on your travels and see what you do. It sounds fascinating.


“Well, I could think of a few things to ask for,” Jared teased. “But this will do quite nicely.” He grinned and tried to readjust his weight, but his muscles didn’t cooperate, and he sighed. “Ya know… one of these days, I’m gonna get awfully tired of not being able to do what I wanna do.” Though he rolled his eyes, it was impossible to hide in his gaze the fact that deep down he really was incredibly frustrated and teetering on the edge of depression, even though he pasted on a smile and acted like he was doing just fine. He had made incredible progress since the accident, but even so, the time it was taking did nothing to help his impatience. 

“I feel bad for my mom,” he admitted. His voice had grown quieter with the sudden change of subject. “She shouldn’t have to take care of me like a kid – she already did that for enough years when I was growing up. But here I am… Now that I actually don’t want to mooch, I have to. Go figure.” He tossed Grace a wry grin. “Maybe it’s some form of sadistic poetic justice.”  

He nudged her arm again with his foot. “But I suppose there are some perks.”


Alec rolled over again for the umpteenth time, his eyes staring into the darkness of his cozy shed. His life had changed so much. First a boy searching for acceptance in all the wrong places. Then a young man trapped by Agency talons. Later a man with no heart, hungry only for that which made him feel more powerful than those around him. Then he’d been caught that fateful night at Scott’s. He’d been shown a completely different world. Someone had cared. 

He rolled over again. Ryan had been the first to break through his barriers. He’d wanted freedom so badly, and she’d understood, yet kept him grounded at the same time. Life had become a whole new struggle between right and wrong – what he wanted, and what he was learning was true. He’d messed up. A lot. He’d lost the trust of the only woman he’d ever really loved. And he’d gotten snatched up by the Agency again, forced to do their will, and in the process, he’d successfully severed ties with love permanently. Only after all the pain and all the rejection of others had he finally broken. But lessons were learned far too late. 

He threw his blanket off and huffed a frustrated sigh. Misty had been the only one with any care still left, and he would be forever grateful. Slowly, slowly, he was starting to mend other relationships he had so carelessly demolished. But some would never be built back up again. And on nights like tonight, it still hurt. From a boy who knew no love, to a man who had tasted and lost. He wasn’t sure which was worse. 

Growling, he slid down from the sleeping space in his shed and pulled on his jeans. He couldn’t sleep. Maybe a walk in the night air would clear his head. As he went for his door though, movement outside his window caught his eye. Immediately, his whole body tensed, and reflexes sent him ducking out of sight. His better senses told him it was probably the neighbors dog, but his hairs standing on end warned him otherwise. And again, he felt the sense that something tonight was not right. 

Weaponless, he cautiously opened the shed door. His eyes scanned the yard, but he saw nothing. Maybe it really had been his imagination. One step forward though, and all he knew was that he’d been struck on the back of the head. But no amount of will power could keep him from slumping to the ground and losing consciousness. 

Inside the house, were two more figures that moved along the shadows, finding their way silently from room to room, speaking only in whispers. Not finding their prey, they made their way carefully upstairs. With only two rooms to search, it was easy to finally find what they were looking for. 

Leaning over Misty’s bed, one of the tall men dressed in black and wearing a ski mask slipped a hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming when she awoke. “Rise and shine, princess,” he sneered. “You’re coming with us.”